8.RP.1.1

Teenage Drug Abuse

Teenagers sometimes like to abuse drugs. When this happens a lot of problems can occur. They usually start using drugs for fun and never expect it to turn into an addiction. Boys use it for negative reasons such as, to get high. Girls use it for more positive reasons such as, to stay alert (Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Facts). If teens keep using drugs they will most likely start to fail in their academics, lose motivation, experience memory loss, and they will start to ignore their family and people they care about. They move away from their old friends and move towards their new “friends” (TEENDRUGABUSE). There are a high percentage of teenagers using drugs. There are a lot of different kinds of drugs out there in the world, Alcohol, Cocaine/Crack, Ecstasy, LSD and PCP, GHB and Rohypnol, Heroin, inhalants, marijuana, methamphetamine, OxyContin, Steroids, and tobacco (Facts on Drugs). In the ages 12 to 17 7.7% of teenager’s abuse prescription drugs, among most commonly abused drugs by 12th graders, after alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. Those who abuse prescription drugs are most likely to abuse other types of drugs. Teens will get the prescription drugs from relatives or friends and sometimes snuck. 54% of high school seniors say that opioid drugs other than heroin would be fairly or very easy to get (Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Facts). Some parent’s might ask what happens to their children when they continue to abuse drugs. If teenage drug abuse continues to increase their minds will become corrupt, and our country will be looked at as badly brought up. Also teens can experience short and long-term health consequences. Drugs can cause paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, and an irregular heartbeat, especially if taken in high doses or other ways other than pill form. Abuse of opioids can cause drowsiness, nausea, shallow breathing, fatigue, disorientation, lack of coordination, and seizures. Abuse of anything else can cause addiction. People might ask if prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs, actually they are not safer then prescription drugs they are just the same if not more (Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Facts). Our solution to this major problem is trying to sell anti-pot-brownies. Most teenagers like junk food (What Food Do Teenagers Currently like to Eat?). Brownies are a good source of junk food. If teens have a problem with marijuana they can get anti-pot-brownies. Or they could get anti-drug-cigarettes. Teens would see that the brownies are just regular brownies and the cigarettes are just paper and they would think that “Oh wow, that’s so cool because there really isn’t any drugs in them.” Then we will be raising money to give to various places for counseling for the troubled teens.

By: Ainsley Millette Nicholas Scott

Works Cited "Facts on Drugs." //ACDE Home Page//. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. [].

"Facts on Drugs." //NIDA for Teens://. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. [].

"Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Facts." //NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse//. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. [].

"Safe from Drugs." //Drugs//. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. [].

"TEENDRUGABUSE." //Teen Drug Abuse Home Page//. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. [].

"What Foods Do Teenagers Currently like to Eat?" //WikiAnswers//. Answers. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. [].